Hello everyone in cyberspace. We've left Costa Rica and are now in Panama, in another cloud forest. We stayed at the Los Quetzales Lodge. When we got there, we met the owner named Carlos, who told us about the place and took us to see ten Labrador puppies that were only one month old. He let us play with them as much as we wanted, which was great. Later we went up to our cabin, which was out deep into the cloud forest. To get there, we needed a four-wheel drive because the road was so bumpy and full of huge potholes. The cabin was really cool because it had a wrap-around porch you could go out on to watch for animals and birds.
The next day, our guide Jonathan brought us out on a walk through the woods and we got to see plants, waterfalls, and birds. That night, we put some bananas out on the feeders and we got to see a few mammals we had never seen before--the cacomistles and kinkajous, when they came to feed. A cacomistle looks like a little tree raccoon and a kinkajou is unique. Not only did the kinkajou eat all the bananas off two feeders, as it that wasn't enough, it then drank everything from the hummingbird feeders!
The next day, our guide Jonathan brought us out on a walk through the woods and we got to see plants, waterfalls, and birds. That night, we put some bananas out on the feeders and we got to see a few mammals we had never seen before--the cacomistles and kinkajous, when they came to feed. A cacomistle looks like a little tree raccoon and a kinkajou is unique. Not only did the kinkajou eat all the bananas off two feeders, as it that wasn't enough, it then drank everything from the hummingbird feeders!
In the morning of the third day, we saw not one, not two, but three
beautiful quetzals. Those are the amazing birds with the really long
tail feathers I told you about in my Costa Rica post. That afternoon,
Carlos took us to meet a lady who rescues wildcats and she had three
ocelots. One of them was a female that was about to give birth to a cub
(that has probably been born by now). Later we went to a barn and got
to milk a cow, which is a lot harder than it looks! Most of the milk we
got from the cow went straight to one of the little lab puppies that
Carlos brought along to keep us company.
After Los Quetzales we went to Bocas Del Toro to stay at our friend Greg's hut on the nearby island of Bastimentos. We were picked up by one of the indigenous people that lives on the island, Jose (but we call him Joey). Greg's hut is literally just a hut on a beach ... there are barely any walls, no doors, and a thatched roof. We didn't have electricity, so at night we ate by candlelight and then crawled under the mosquito netting with our flashlights to read.
Joey's
wife and some of his kids were there to greet us and help us settle in.
Joey's kids liked to come over and we all played volleyball, soccer and
swam in the water. Days at Greg's hut usually started out with Fruit
Loops, our version of a tropical breakfast, then an island activity
(swimming, snorkeling, reading in a hammock), visiting with the locals
on the island, then a biology filled night (gigantic fireflies or
scorpions).
The
days were great and seeing Joey usually involved a fun activity like
snorkeling or even one day we went to see his home in Salt Creek, which
is where the native community lives. He took us by boat over to the village
and we got to see his house, where he had three pet parrots, and we met
his brother, who owns a little convenience store where we all got
sodas. The last night we went over to Joey's parent's house where his
mom made us a great seafood meal of the fish and lobster that he had
caught that day. It was really special to get to know the people who
live on the island.
Now after a stopover in Costa Rica we'll be heading back home. Hard to believe we've been traveling for a year!
After Los Quetzales we went to Bocas Del Toro to stay at our friend Greg's hut on the nearby island of Bastimentos. We were picked up by one of the indigenous people that lives on the island, Jose (but we call him Joey). Greg's hut is literally just a hut on a beach ... there are barely any walls, no doors, and a thatched roof. We didn't have electricity, so at night we ate by candlelight and then crawled under the mosquito netting with our flashlights to read.
Joey's
wife and some of his kids were there to greet us and help us settle in.
Joey's kids liked to come over and we all played volleyball, soccer and
swam in the water. Days at Greg's hut usually started out with Fruit
Loops, our version of a tropical breakfast, then an island activity
(swimming, snorkeling, reading in a hammock), visiting with the locals
on the island, then a biology filled night (gigantic fireflies or
scorpions). The
days were great and seeing Joey usually involved a fun activity like
snorkeling or even one day we went to see his home in Salt Creek, which
is where the native community lives. He took us by boat over to the village
and we got to see his house, where he had three pet parrots, and we met
his brother, who owns a little convenience store where we all got
sodas. The last night we went over to Joey's parent's house where his
mom made us a great seafood meal of the fish and lobster that he had
caught that day. It was really special to get to know the people who
live on the island.Now after a stopover in Costa Rica we'll be heading back home. Hard to believe we've been traveling for a year!
Our family will miss your adventures. Thanks for sharing your travels with us. We've been able to see parts of our world that we would never have had the opportunity to see through your eyes and your blogging. Thank you!
- Littewelsh's Dad for Littlewelsh
wow all those places at such a young age you are so fortunate my mom wont even let me go to to another state thanks for showing me how much amazing things re out there in the world
you guys are lucky to go out there and explore.
i am from Srilanka a tropical island in the indian ocean full of wildlife i think you will like it.
pathum
super cool of you guys to share your journey. Looks totally tubular.
Hi Tyler and Stefan,
Hope your Dad and Mom are well and that your trip ended safely. I loved reading about your adventures, especially about the puppies. I still have three black and two white 4 month old lab puppies. They weigh about 30 pounds and just getting bigger and smarter.
We now have two Jersey cows and every morning we serve at breakfast fresh butter, cheese, yogurt and fresh milk.
Are you going to continue with your blog?
Please send my best to parents, best regards,
Carlos
Hi Tyler and Stefan,
Hope your Dad and Mom are well and that your trip ended safely. I loved reading about your adventures, especially about the puppies. I still have three black and two white 4 month old lab puppies. They weigh about 30 pounds and just getting bigger and faster.
We now have two Jersey cows and every morning we serve at breakfast fresh butter, cheese, yogurt and fresh milk.
Are you going to continue with your blog?
Please send my best to parents, best regards,
Carlos
i love birds especially parrots i wish i can go around the world just like you guys save a trip to home.
that monkey picter was soooo cool .
the birds must have sean were intreasting.
i wish i could go on a world trip your so luckey
love taylor
hi this is miranda. iluv those lab pupps , especially those black ones. joey's pet parrots were awesome. i' m an indian. i want you to tell something about india.i live in the capital delhi. here in my surroundings there is abird watchers site.so everyday i can see agud variety of birds at my windows. if you should ever visit india don't forgt to visit delhi for this place is also faamous for spicy north indian fast food.
Thanks for sharing your travels with us.I loved reading about your adventures, especially about the animals.Parrots picture so cute.........
Sarong
Thanks for sharing your travels with us.I loved reading about your adventures, especially about the animals.Parrots picture so cute.........
Sarong
wow those pups are cut i wish i had one of my own but i all ready have a cat.that must have been a fun trip.
Hope your Dad and Mom are well and that your trip ended safely. I loved reading about your adventures, especially about the puppies. I still have three black and two white 4 month old lab puppies. They weigh about 30 pounds and just getting bigger and smarter.